Screen door grille



L. A. MACKLANBURG 2,657,746

Nov. 3, 1953 SCREEN DOOR GRILLE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25. 1949Lou/s fl Mac/(Ian bury BY W 274% INVENTOR ATTORNEY L. A. MACKLANBURGNov. 3, 1953 SCREEN DOOR GRILLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 W;IVIV/ FIG. 5

Louis /I. Mac/flan bu, r3

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATE era-TENT OFFICE 2,657,746SCREEN noon GRILLE Louis A. Macklanburg, Oklahoma City, Okla.Application August 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,322

4 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to push grilles for protectingthe wire mesh of screen doors, and for bracing the frames of such doors.Conventional screen doors in the most prevalent sizes, vary somewhat inboth height and width. Protective and decorative metal push' grilles,which fit within the screen door frames, must therefore be made invarious sizes. The amount of variation in the size of such doors, doesnot ordinarily exceed six inches either horizontally or vertically.Attempts have heretofore been made to design various types of adjustablegrilles for screen doors, but ordinarily, the resultant structures lackbeauty and/or symmetry, and the adjustable mechanics are evident even toa casual observer.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide 'a screendoor grille which is adjustable both laterally and vertically, and inwhich the adjsutable mechanics are not apparent to a casual observer.

A further object is to provide an adjustable grille in which theadjustable mechanics do not detract from the grace, symmetry or beautyof the grille. 7

Another object is to provide a grille structure which is both decorativeand strengthening to the door frame. w o

An important object is to provide a grille of this class which is' sodesigned that it may be packaged and shipped in disassembled orknocked-down condition, yet may be reassembled and installed with only ascrew-driver being used. l 4

An additional object is to provide an adjustable structure for screengrilles, in which a plurality of .scroll bearing slatslor arms are used,and .in which the number of the slats used may be varied to suit thetaste of the individual.

A further object is to provide an adjustable grille structure whereinthe decorative slats are made of slightly resilient metal so that theirscrolled end portions may be sprung laterally to accommodate frameopenings of various widths, thus eliminatin all laterally disposedlongitudinally adjustable rods or beams, all pivotally mounted laterallyswinging arms, and all interchangeable or auxiliary and attachablescroll pieces, which are usually present in conventional adjustablescreen door grilles.

Briefly stated, the .invention includes a means for rigidly clampingtogether the straight end portions of a plurality of slightly resilientmetal slats or rods, the free ends of which bearv decorative scrolls,and'holdingsuch straight end .portions rigidly mounted in the opening ofa screen slats;

door frame. The slats are longitudinally adjustable in the clampingmeans, so that they may be extended various distances therefrom toaccommodate frame openings of various heights, and the extended scrolledend portions of the slats may be swung laterally sufficient distances toaccommodate frame openings of various widths.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying 'two sheets of drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a conventional screen door inwhich'the grille structure 'of the present invention has been installed,the dotted lines showing possible variation in frame width and height,and the possible scroll-slat adjustment to accommodate such framevariation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a slat clamping mechanismmade in accordance with the inventive precept, the dotted linesill-ustrating the manner in which the mechanism may be made toaccommodate different numbers of Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical sectional view through the main body portion or clamping sleeveof the clamping mechanism;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the clamping sleeve andshowing three scroll slats impinged therein, the dotted linesillustrating the sleeve as it would appear if an additional slat isadded, the section having been taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFig. 2; and,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slightly differenttype of clamping sleeve.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures ofthe drawings in which they occur.

'In the drawings:

The reference numeral l indicates as a whole, a conventional'screen dooror screen frame having an opening described by two vertical parallelside rails 2 and 3, a horizontal top rail 4 rigidly connecting the upperends of said side rails, and by'a horizontal bottom panel 5, whichconnects the lower ends of the side rails. The opening within the frame1 is indicated, as a whole, by the reference numeral 6.

The grille of the present invention includes a bracket, composed of twoindividual sections A and B. In the embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, the bracket section is formed by bending a singlepiece of metal strap to form a substantially triangular loop. The loophas a straight horizontal bottom portion [0, "an upwardly and inwardlyextending straight side portion I l, and an arcuate side portion 12which extends downwardly and inwardly to meet the bottom portion ladjacent the inner end thereof. The lower end of the arcuate sideportion I2 is bent abruptly to extend along and lie flatly upon theupper surface of the inner end portion of the bottom portion 19. Thisshort horizontal end portion is indicated by the reference numeral l3.The inner end of the bottom portion l6, and the horizontal end portion[3, are provided with complemental through slots M for receiving a woodscrew 25 whereby the bracket section A may be anchored in the frameopening 8 and upon the upper edge of the panel 5.

Attached within the above described loop of the bracket A, there isprovided a strengthening brace which is rigidly attached by rivets I6 tothe portions H3, l I and [2 of the loop. In the present instance, thebrace i5 is made ornamental as well as useful, but it could well be madeto assume any desired configuration, as long as it braced the loop sidesagainst collapse or bending.

The bracket section B also consists of a substantially triangular loopformed by bending a single piece of metal strap. The strap has astraight vertical side portion ll, adapted to be attached to the inneredge of the side rail 3 by Wood screws 18. At its lower end, the sideportion I! is abruptly bent upwardly and inwardly to form a straightside portion l9. At the upper end of the side portion 19, the strap isbent abruptly in an outward direction to form a top portion whichextends to meet the inner surface of the upper end of the vertical sideportion IT. The outer end of the top portion Bil is bent upwardly toextend along the side portion I1, and one of the wood screws l8 passesthrough the two ends of the strap. and into the side rail 3 of the doorframe. The loop of the bracket section B is reinforced by a suitablebrace 21 held therein by rivets 22.

That face of the side l9 which lies nearest the bracket section A, isequipped with a longitudinal three-sided channel member 23 having itsopening or mouth facing toward the bracket section A. The central span2.4 of the channel member 23 is riveted firml to the side portion E9 ofthe bracket section B, and is consequently held immovable in the doorframe I.

To the outer face of the side portion ll of the bracket section A isriveted a similar, but slightly larger, channel member 26 which isadapted to fit over and close the mouth of the first channel member 23when the bracket section A is moved toward the bracket section B.

The two channel members 23 and 26 complementally form an elongatedtubate socket for receiving and embracing the straight lower end portion29 of a plurality of elongated decorative elements or strips 21. Theelements 21 are preferably made of slightly resilient strap metal, andtheir other end portions are preferably bent to form scrolls or otherdecorative configurations 28. The bent end portions of the strapelements 2! are perforated toreceive wood screws 30, whereby they may beattached in various positions to the inside edges of the door framerails 2, 3 and/ or 4.

In installing the grille of the present invention in the door frame I,the bracket section B is first mounted on the inside edge surface of theside rail 3, as shown. Two or more of the wood screws I8 are used forthis purpose. The bracket section A is next mounted upon the upper edgeof the bottom panel 5 of the door, with the wood screw 25 engaged in thepanel, but not tightened down. A desired number of the straight ends 29of the decorative strap elements 2? are then thrust downwardly into thesocket formed by the two channel members 23 and 26. The strap elements2'! are pulled upwardly a desired distance, to make their scroll endsreach a desired height in the frame I. The wood screws 30 are theninstalled to hold the strap elements in place.

Some of the strap elements may be fastened to both the upper rail 4 andone of the side rails 2 or 3, while others may be sprung laterally toreach one of the side rails, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Thestrap elements 2'! are, of course, of different lengths. It is thereforepossible to obtain different decorative results by using differentnumbers of the strap elements, and by positioning their scrolled ends indifferent places in the frame I. Since the straight end portions 29 areslidable in the bracket socket, and since the strap elements arebendable or resilient, many different decorative effects may beobtained. Since the socket forming channels 23 and 26 are adjustabletoward and away from each other, different numbers of the strap elementsmay be use.

After the desired number of the strap elements have thus been mounted inthe door frame I, the bracket section A is pushed along the panel 5toward the bracket section B, and the channel members 23 and 26 arethereby caused to impinge and clamp the end portions 29 of the strapelements 21 firmly together. The wood screw 25 is then tightened down tohold the bracket section A immovable.

If desired, the bottom extent of the bracket reinforcing element 15 andthe horizontal portion ID of the bracket section A may be slotted toreceive another one of the wood screws 25. Such a slot is shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, and is indicated by the reference numeral 3!.

While the bracket is shown in the drawings as being mounted in the lowerright hand corner of the door frame I, it is evident that it could wellbe positioned in any other inside angle of such frame.

In Fig. 1, the solid lines depict the strap elements 2'! as they appearwhen installed within the screen opening of a door of one size. Thedotted lines depict a door frame of larger size, and show the strapelements as they would appear when drawn further out of the socket, andafter being sprung laterally to accommodate the greater frame width.

It is within the concept of the present invention, that the bracket maybe designed for use in other positions in the frame opening than in acorner angle. It is also conceived that the bracket could well bedesigned to mount on the front or rear face of the door frame, ratherthan on the inside edges of the elements which bound the screen opening.

In instances wherein only one specific number of the strap elements 21are to be used, the strapend receiving socket could well be made of onetubate piece. In such a case, the bracket need not be made in twosections, as shown in the drawings and as described hereinabove, and asquare socket such as that shown in Fig. 5, could be used to slidablymount the straight end portions 29 of the strap elements 21. The tubatesocket, which is square in cross-section, and which is shown in Fig. 5,is indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 32. The socket 32 is ofa size to properly envelop five of the strap end portions,

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alterationwithout defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not Wish to beconfined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and describedherein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable grille for screen door frames, including: a pluralityof elongated strap-like elements having decorative scrolls on one endadapted to be individually anchored in various spaced positions withinthe opening of a screen door frame, the other ends of said elementsbeing gathered together in flat face to face relationship to each other;a bracket adapted to be rigidly mounted in said frame opening; and atubate socket carried by the bracket for embracing and anchoring thegathered ends of said elements in various longitudinal positions, saidsocket including two elongated channel members, one nested Within theother to complementally form a tubate socket opening into which saidgathered ends of the scroll elements extend, said member beingrelatively movable laterally to impinge said gathered ends; and meansfor anchoring the channel members in various relative positions oflateral adjustment.

2. An adjustable grille for screen door frames including: a plurality ofelongated strap-like ele ments having decorative scrolls on one end,said scroll ends being adapted to be individually anchored in variousspaced positions within the opening of a scren door frame, the otherends of said elements being gathered together adjacent one corner ofsaid door opening in flat face to face relationship to each other; abracket adapted to be anchored to said door frame; and a tubate socketcarried by the bracket for embracing and anchoring the gathered ends ofsaid elements in various longitudinal positions, said socket includingtwo elongated channel members, one nested within the other tocomplementally form a tubate socket opening into which said gatheredends of the scroll elements extend, said members being relativelymovable laterally to impinge said gathered ends; and means for anchoringthe channel members in various relative positions of lateral adjustment.

3. An adjustable grille for screen door frames, including: a pluralityof elongated elements having relatively similar end portions bent intodecorative configurations, said portions adapted to be individuallyanchored in various positions within the opening of a screen door frame,the other end portions of said elements being straight and beinggathered together in adjacent co-extensive relationship to each other; abracket adapted to be anchored to said door frame; and a tubate socketcarried by the bracket for embracing and anchoring the gathered ends ofsaid elements, said socket including two elongated channel members, onenested within the other to complementally form a tubate socket openinginto which said gathered ends of said elongated elements extend, saidmembers being relatively movable lateraily to impinge said gatheredends; and means for anchoring the channel members in various relativepositions of lateral adjustment.

4. An adjustable grille for screen door frames, including: a pluralityof elongated elements having relatively similar end portions bent intodecorative configurations, said portions adapted to be individuallyanchored in various positions within the opening of a screen door frame,the other end portions of said elements being straight, and beinggathered together adjacent one corner of said door opening inco-extensive relationship to each other; a bracket adapted to beanchored to said frame adjacent said corner; and a tubate socket carriedby the bracket for embracing and anchoring the gathered ends of saidelements, said socket including two elongated channe1 members, onenested within the other to complementally form a tubate socket openinginto which said gathered ends of said elongated elements extend, saidmembers being relatively movable laterally to impinge said gatheredends; and means for anchoring the channel members in various relativepositions of lateral adjustment.

LOUIS A. MACKLANBURG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,210,371 Hutchinson Aug. 6, 1940 2,431,416 Nagel Nov. 25,1947 OTHER REFERENCES Art in Iron, by Artcraft Ornamental Iron 00., 724E. Hudson Street, Columbus, Ohio; library number: TH 1651.A8a. Copy inDesign Division; page 16 relied upon.

